What distinguishes a felony from a misdemeanor?

A felony is indeed distinguished from a misdemeanor primarily by the severity of the punishment involved. Specifically, felonies are offenses that carry a punishment of more than one year in prison, which reflects the more serious nature of these crimes. This significant separation in terms of potential incarceration time highlights the greater societal harm typically associated with felonies compared to misdemeanors.

Misdemeanors, on the other hand, generally involve less severe penalties, which often encompass shorter jail time (less than one year), fines, or other forms of punishment that do not include state prison. Understanding this difference is crucial as it impacts how criminal offenses are classified, how individuals are prosecuted, and the ultimate consequences a person may face if convicted. This classification system also serves the purpose of guiding law enforcement and the judicial system in terms of the response to different types of criminal behavior.